Monogram Mafia III

Stik: it's starting to look like a rocket!  If thet "retro rocket" were brass, I'd swear it was a spitoon!

1997 Ford Expedition update: Well, I didn't like the look of the floor panel, so I grabbed one from an earlier release of the (non-SSV) Expedition.

I hit the console and rear panel with primer.  After that I masked them and shot the floor with Model Master fabric grey.  Once that was dry, I overcoated with Tamiya Panzer grey.

I painted the das in primer grey and semi-gloss black. I detailed the instrument cluster with a Derwent Studion "chinese white" pencil and a Sharpie red (ultra fine.)

I trying to decide on adding an older style MDT or a new laptop type computer.....

So during the week I built all the small sub assemblies for Steps 5 & 6, which are essentially the internal components that go inside the Equipment Stage. And I added the final external parts on Step 7, which is the nosecone radar antenna and the manuvering rocket nozzle housings on the Equipment Stage. After building those items, I did seam clean up, but I did not glue it all in place. Instead I superglued them on to toothpicks for handling during airbrushing. Then using the following photos that I found online as reference, I began my airbrushing session today.

Retrograde Section

Equipment Section

Retro Rocket

Retro Rockets and Manuevering Rockets (Testors Flat Steel). I still need to paint the nozzles and their attachment collars

Electronics:clockwise from upper right Electronics Package, Cooling Unit, Battery Power Cells, and Rendezvous Radar

Then we have the balls... Spaceballs that is. Oxidizers, Fuel, Reactant, Oxygen, and Pressure cells, along with the mounting framework for the Reactant Cells. The rest mount onto the top of the Equipment Stage (Model Master Oiled Steel and Dark Gull Gray)

Then based upon the above photos, and having read that the cover between the Retrograde Stage and the Equipment Stage was made from fiberglass, I opted to use MM Radome Tan, which is a standard US aerospace fiberglass color. And I gave the external portion of those Stages a base coat of Humbrol Matt White

Then I did a touch up coat of Humbrol Matt Black on the Capsule itself

More to come in the next few days...

Here ya go...

http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/2004/01/stuff_eng_interior_colours_us.htm

Pt 1 is an overview of colors used, Pt.2 is about USAAF aircraft and colors used, and Pt.3 is about USN/USMC aircraft and colors.

stikpusher

Dave, you give me far too much credit here! LOL! I fall back alot on the IPMS Stockholm site with their US interior colors article. If you do not have that link saved, let me know, I will post up here later. Without referenceing a look there first, based upon the above photos and statement, Bell Interior Green sounds like a good reasonable choice.

Mark that really suck about the camera. We missed you at AMPS as yesterday. Will you be at IPMS on Friday? I hear ya about the projects keeping you busy. I have a few weeks off work right now, but not too much modeling moejoe flowed last week...

Duke Maddog

stikpusher

There you are Mark... I guess that you have been busy on other projects?

Yeah, too many and none having to do with modeling. Furthermore, with my camera being stolen at the Comicon, I haven't any way to take pics anyway until my new one comes in. Supposed to have been here yesterday but of course, because I want it now, I have to wait even longer for it!

Gonna see what else I can get done today and tomorrow. I REALLY need to finish something!

Dave, you give me far too much credit here! LOL! I fall back alot on the IPMS Stockholm site with their US interior colors article. If you do not have that link saved, let me know, I will post up here later. Without referenceing a look there first, based upon the above photos and statement, Bell Interior Green sounds like a good reasonable choice.

Mark that really suck about the camera. We missed you at AMPS as yesterday. Will you be at IPMS on Friday? I hear ya about the projects keeping you busy. I have a few weeks off work right now, but not too much modeling moejoe flowed last week...

stikpusher

There you are Mark... I guess that you have been busy on other projects?

Yeah, too many and none having to do with modeling. Furthermore, with my camera being stolen at the Comicon, I haven't any way to take pics anyway until my new one comes in. Supposed to have been here yesterday but of course, because I want it now, I have to wait even longer for it!

Gonna see what else I can get done today and tomorrow. I REALLY need to finish something!

Hey there, AJD.  I think that the Bell interior green would be the correct color.  I saw a Russian Aircobra  recovered from a swampland somewhere on the Russian Front on display in a flying museum at Virginia Beach.  It was in pretty rough shape, but most of its original USAAF paint job appeared to be intact.  OD/Neutral Gray, with Bell interior green in the cockpit area and open bays.

I would have to defer to Dom Stick on what the actual colors may be; he has an unlimited knowledge and photo resources on most things military aviation and history related....that's why he is 'The Dom!!"

There you are Mark... I guess that you have been busy on other projects?

At Hobby Day yesterday I got the Bearcat ready for paint and got further progress done on the F4B4 as well. Once my camera comes in, I'll get pics.

That's crazy!!! I never would have thought that!!!

Yes I am quite fond of it already.. Oh and back-tracking to the F-89, she was quite a big one. Actually had almost the exact same measurments as an A-20 Havoc. And 5 tons heavier too!

Oh yeah!  I kinda forgot about that!!  I remember now!  Still....an oldie but a goodie!!

Dave; yeah a did a dry run and taped the fusagale together and put the wings up to her, and the ONLY problem area I saw was where the rear of the wings fit to the bottom of the fuselage. There was maybe a 1/32 inch gap, but nothing some hot cement or stretched sprue wont fix.

Eric- great looking cockpit, I had no idea that plane was that ginormous!!! Eager to follow your progress.

Ajd- That P-39 kit is pretty sweet; hard to believe that the molds are from the 60s....it still fits together really well.  Hope to see some progress pics soon!!

Dave

Eric

The Floquil paints are a good choice as they produce a convincing finish. I stocked up on Platinum Mist, Bright Silver and Old Silver. I grabbed the last bottles my LHS had so I have about 2 of each.

Don't be discouraged by your last attempt with Alclad. if you fall of the bike, you get right on it and continue. Either way, I have a suspicion that your Scorpion will look great just by  looking at the great pit work you did.

Nice cockpit Erci, I am looking forward to seeing this kit when it is completed

I agree, I like your finish on the cockpit, Eric, well done!

Eric: nice looking cockpit.

Thank you Stik and Plastic.  :o)   Yes it is definitely a huge bird!  I have an old F-89J which I built back in the '90s sitting next to some WW2 fighters of the same scale.  The WW2 planes definitely look like little shrimps compared to the F-89!

While I do have Alclad paints on my shelf, I think I might lean towards the Floquil Silver Mist and Old Silver paints.  That's how I did my last Scorpion and I was quite happy with the result.  I think Alclads are great paints when in the hands of talented individuals.  Sadly, I don't think I qualify for that category.  I've only done two models in Alclad.  The first one came out phenomenally!  However, I attribute that to beginer's luck.  The second one came out pretty bad.  I can't even begin to guess how I messed that one up.  I'm not against trying Alclad again but I need to get over being a little gun-shy when it comes to using it again.  However, the more I think about it right now, maybe I will give it another try.  You've definitely planted a seed in my head now!  LOL!

Oh, and Plastic, you're right.  There are a couple of small, easy to deal with errors on the -C kit.  One is that there shouldn't be those two dorsal air scoops back by the tail.  Those are easily sanded and removed.  The other error which I just found out about a couple of days ago is that the rocket stubs under the wings should be removed.  From what I read on-line, the stubs were discontinued starting with the -C variant.  That was news to me.  In the interest of moving the kit along and finishing the builds, I just might skip this part and leave them on.  I just won't put any rockets on them.  I don't know.  We'll see how the spirits move me when I get to that point.  Same with the scoops.

Eric

echolmberg

I have that one in my stash and it's a HUGE model. I should have gone with a 1/72 scale instead. The molded details are fantastic. I was reading an article about a couple of errors by Monogram on this one but are easily corrected. I can't remember where I read the info.

Your office looks great! Will you be using Alclad on this beast?

Very nice cockpit there Eric. That Scorpion is certainly a big bird! Almost the size of a WWII medium bomber...

CC, the Hellcat is noted... looking forward to that here. An oldie but goody!

Hi everyone!

First a little disclaimer.  I love Revell/Monogram kits and I will do my best to complete what I have started.  I hope I can get both kits done in six months.  Normally it takes me that long to build ONE model kit if I'm lucky.  So in order to push myself to stick with this committment, I'm going to try my best to post some "in process" photos.  Of all the years I've been on the FSM forum, I think this will be my very first time posting an in process build.  And away we go...

The F-89C cockpit is pretty much complete.  I haven't painted the belts because I intend on putting the pilot figures in the cockpet.  I figure the pilots will cover them up.  I used Model Master enamels for all colors except the black.  Those were done with Floquil paints.  I applied a coat of Future and then, after that curerd for 24 hours, I gave it a wash of Tamiya smoke thinned with rubbing alcohol with a tiny little drop of dish soap.  The whole works was then given a Model Master flat coat from a rattle can and then given a dry brush treatment with MM light aircraft grey.

The rear cockpit certainly looks busy enough but I don't know that I've ever seen a picture of a real rear cockpit instrument panel that looks like the one provided in the kit.

Thanks for watching!  I hope to have more progress to report soon.

Eric

Great Eagles you got there, B-1!!!!

Stopped by the LHS yesterday.  They didn't have a P-51, so my second build will be a 1/48 scale Hellcat.    Not much of a cockpit, but it looks like it will be a fun build, and I need a US Navy plane on the wall anyway!

PJ, I'm looking forward to more photos of your progress on the Voodoo.

MK, your choices are added to the roster.

Ajd,

I sent you a message.  I haven't heard back from you so I don't know if you saw it or not.  Have a gander at it and let me know what you think.

Thanks!

Eric